Teaching

Harvard College

Justice: Ethical Reasoning in Polarized Times by Michael Sandel (Fall 2024) 

Teaching 2 weekly seminars (12-15 students), providing organizational support for the lecture (800 students), assessing student work (essays, exams, participation), and leading consultations (mentoring) on course content and academic progress. 

Harvard University’s renowned “Justice” course, taught by Professor Michael Sandel, has returned to in-person instruction for the first time in over a decade. This course delves into fundamental questions of moral and political philosophy, encouraging students to reflect on ethical dilemmas and reason collectively across differing perspectives. The curriculum examines philosophical concepts such as justice, rights, virtue, and the common good, grounding discussions in both classical theories and contemporary issues. Notably, the Fall 2024 iteration introduces new topics, including the ethics of artificial intelligence, climate change responsibilities, immigration, and the morality of markets. Originally launched in 1980, “Justice” has been one of Harvard’s most popular courses, enrolling over 15,000 students to date. In 2009, it became Harvard’s first course to be freely available online, reaching millions worldwide.  The course’s widespread acclaim underscores its significant impact on public discourse concerning ethical reasoning and justice.

What is a Republic? by Daniel Carpenter (Spring 2025)

Teaching 4 weekly seminars (12-15 students), providing organizational support for the lecture (270 students), assessing student work (essays, exams, participation), and leading consultations (mentoring) on course content and academic progress. 

This course examines the history, theory, and practice of republican government, focusing on the role of representation in shaping modern democracy. It analyzes key institutions—elections, assemblies, offices, and decision-making bodies—to understand how power is distributed and constrained. Beyond electoral representation, the course explores alternative forms of public influence, such as petitioning, protest, and grievance. Historical republics, from Rome to modern democracies like the United States and France, serve as case studies to illustrate how governance, accountability, and the rule of law evolve. Special attention is given to the strengths and weaknesses of elections, the separation of powers, and the role of civic virtue in sustaining a republic. Designed as an interactive and discussion-based course, it encourages students to engage with philosophical texts, historical examples, and contemporary debates. By the end, it evaluates how well republics have lived up to their ideals and what challenges they face in the modern world.